emulation machine from scratch

Last update: Thu Jun 5 22:25:40 2025

This is not a micro step by step build, it's more a memento for me on how I did it, in case I have to redo it one day. And if you find it of any help, I'm happy for you!

Presentation

Principle

Got an old PC so I decided to stick it under the TV to play retro old games with my kids.

Implementation

Grab an old PC, put a Linux. My choice was a Lubuntu 20.4 for speed and lightness.

sudo apt install retroarch

sudo apt install libretro-* whichever you need as emulator

sudo apt-get install libsdl2-dev libboost-system-dev libboost-filesystem-dev libboost-date-time-dev libboost-locale-dev libfreeimage-dev libfreetype6-dev libeigen3-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libasound2-dev libgl1-mesa-dev build-essential cmake fonts-droid git

git clone https://github.com/Aloshi/EmulationStation

cmake .

make

Edit the ~/.emulationstation/es_systems.cfg:

change the command to reflect the emulators you use/need

edit path to the roms

edit roms extension

change the retroach run command:

--fullscreen
--libretro=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libretro/xxxxxemulatornamexxxx_libretro.so
Edit the ~/.config/retroarch/retroarch.cfg or run retroarch to edit settings:

Settings > Input > Input Hotkey Binds >

... Enable hotkey to define the hotkey

... Load state to define the OTHER key you have to press at the same time as the hotkey

Allow the current user to shudown WITHOUT password:

sudo visudo

user_name ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: /sbin/poweroff, /sbin/reboot, /sbin/shutdown

Bill of materials

Pictures

Links

Helpful sources

Inspiration

All content on this site is shared under the MIT licence (do what u want, don't sue me, hat tip appreciated)
electrogeek.tokyo ~ Formerly known as Kalshagar.wikispaces.com and electrogeek.cc (AlanFromJapan [2009 - 2025])